Golkonda Fort (Hyderabad) : In the blazing Ashada sun of June 26, 2025, Hyderabad burst into color and sound as Bonalu festivities began at the historic Jagadambika Temple atop Golconda Fort. With teen-maar beats pulsing through the ancient stones, thousands of devotees gathered to honor Goddess Mahakali—a vibrant spectacle of faith passed down generations since 1813. Women in bright sarees carried Bonams—brass pots filled with rice, jaggery, and milk—on their heads, adorned with turmeric, vermilion, and neem leaves.
Each step up the 350-stair climb was a prayer, a memory, a promise. The fierce presence of Potharaju, Mahakali’s symbolic guardian, energized the procession as he danced through the crowd, his bells echoing like thunder. The golden Bonam was offered, and the Rangam ritual followed—where the goddess, through a chosen woman, is believed to speak of the times ahead.
It was more than a ritual; it was prophecy, theater, and a bond with the divine. This year, Bonalu reaches deeper and farther, backed by ₹20 crore in state support. As festivities spread from Golconda to Ujjaini Mahakali and Lal Darwaza temples, Hyderabad becomes one living temple of gratitude and resilience. Nook and corner of Hyderabad came alive as Mahakali’s festival united tradition, spirit, and community.